- Polestar builds habitable, full-scale implementation of a design contest submission
- KOJA Micro Space treehouse built from sustainable materials reduces travel time to immerse in nature
- KOJA is part of the "House by an Architect" exhibition during the Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennial
Swedish electric car brand Polestar introduces a new vision of sustainable travel with KOJA*, a micro space treehouse designed by Finnish designer Kristian Talvitie. The design won an award at the Polestar Design Contest 2021. As part of the preparations for the launch of the Polestar Design Contest 2022, Polestar now decided to bring KOJA to life.
Built in Fiskars, an art and design center in southwestern Finland, KOJA is the first real-size Polestar Design Contest contribution. KOJA is part of the "House by an Architect" exhibition at the Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale, which runs from May to September 2022.
"We were fascinated by the idea and how it translates our brand values into a different environment. That was the deciding factor for us and we were so impressed that we decided to build it," said Maximilian Missoni, Head of Design at Polestar.
Responding to the "Progress" theme of the 2021 Polestar Design Contest, KOJA redefines sustainable travel by reducing the need to travel in the first place while bringing people closer to nature. KOJA is attached to a tree trunk just below the tree crown. A panoramic glazed facade offers a view from the treetops, providing an immersive, holistic experience in a natural setting. KOJA also ties into the growing trend of "micro spaces." The treehouse is especially accessible to people who would otherwise take a longer trip to experience the wilderness. At the same time, KOJA embodies both Polestar's design language and brand values related to sustainability by minimizing the use of materials and energy while maximizing the experience.
"Most designers look at design from the user's perspective," adds KOJA designer Kristian Talvitie. "I also look at things from the environmental perspective. There should be a symbiosis between the design and the place where people meet."
To turn the design into reality, Kristian Talvitie worked closely with the Polestar Design Team in Gothenburg, Sweden, and with the Finnish design agency Ultra. Made from sustainable and durable materials such as locally sourced wood and wool, KOJA blends into its natural surroundings while creating a striking contrast - just like Polestar's cars.
*Koja [kåj`a], noun. Swedish word meaning "cottage" or "cave". The word koja has a similar meaning in several languages, from German "Koje" to Japanese "こや" (same pronunciation).
